Compare towns
Kensington vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Kensington | Hooksett | Epping | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
15,057 |
7,430 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.